Water-elevator.



F. A. GRUNOW.

WATER ELEVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAK.17,1908.

901 ,238, Patented Oct. 13, 1908.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WI NES ES INVENTDK- 4/ 7M; Ji

F. A. GRUNOW. WATER ELEVATOR.

- APPLICATION FILED JAN. 17,1908 901 ,238, Patented Oct. 13, 1908.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

TT N Y F. A. 'GRUNOW, WALTER ELEVAT0R. APPLICATION FILED IAN.17,1908.

Patented Oct. 13, 1908. 3 sums-sum a;

WE HtS ES.

FRANK A. GRUNOW, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUaSANA.

WATER-ELEVATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. is, 1908. I

Application filed. January 17, 1908. Serial No. 411,319.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, -FRANK A. GRUNO'W, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in ater-Elevators, of which the following is a specification.

TlllS invention relates to an anti-friction water elevator, or pumping apparatus, provided with a running wheel comprising a central hub, an outer annular ring, arms connecting same with the hub, and a series of water-cutting and expelling blades connected with the aforesaid annular ring on lines'tangential with the inner circle thereof and projecting from the said annular ring, preferably in parallel lines with. the driving shaft; or the said blades may be inclined either to, or from the shaft, or in the direction of travel, if desired so that the lower I or lifting effect upon the water.

ends being in advance shall have a plowing The outer projecting ends, or heels, of the cut-ting blades are connected with an annularring,

5 by which greater strength and stability is insured to same. This ring, however, may

be' omitted when the apparatus is desi ned for very light work, but in such cases only.

The apparatus is provided with an annular base and a dome-shaped cover, the lattel supported above the base by stands of peculiar form and bolts passing therethrough,

The lnvention further consists in certain details of-construction and combinations of parts, as shown in drawings and hereinafter fully described and specifically claimed.

Referring to the drawings-Figure 1 is an elevation of the apparatus, one-half of which is shown insection. Fig. 2 is a top view of one-half of the apparatus, and a transverse horizontal section of the other half thereof.

Fig. 3 is a view from the underside of the running wheel or piston. the underside of a gland or stu ng boxaeever. Fig. 5 is a section view, representin the un-.

derside of aportion of the base 0 the ap-.

paratus. Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the pumping apparatus with its driving shaft and pulley, as arranged in a vertical flume O or penstock. Fig. 7 represents the pumping with, depending upon the use to which the Fi 4 represents apparatus is to be applied. Fig. shows a simplified form of pumping apparatus and flume. Fig. 9 represents the ,apparatus arranged within a substantial"{Istructure, for drai-na e and other purposes, ?;where a large body of water is to be raised and discharged.

The numeral 1 designates thQlOWBI' art of the apparatus, which is of cylindrica form and provided with an inwardly and outwardly projecting. top flange 2 and a series of downwardly projecting guides 3 to receive the ends ofanadjustable frame 4, the center of which is provided with a steel step 5 to receive the lower end of the driving shaft 6.

The frame 4, carrying the steel step 5 and I driving shaft 6, is supported and vertically adjusted by screw-threaded rods '1 and nuts 8; the lower ends of the rods -7 being bent in stirrup form to fit the groove and. perforated ends of the frame 4, in which position they are secured by the nuts 9.

To support the adjustable frame 4, when in its lowermost position, each end thereof is fitted'within a link 10, the upper part of which is connected with the guides 3, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

A series of deflecting stands 11, comprising plates having curved surfaces terminatin in sharp'edges and providedv between said edges with a vertical hole for the reception of one of the rods 7, are arranged around the top flange 2 of the lower part of the apparatus for thesupport of the dome or cover 12, which is likewise provided with bolt holes for the rods 7 so as to be secured thereon by the nuts 8. These stands are arranged on the flange 2 at an angle of about forty-five degrees to a radial line, as shown at Fig. 2, to deviate the outward flow of water, and thus relieve the whee'lof pressure, taking advantage of current and gymtion or swirl of the water, forming a suction around the periphery of the wheel whereby the efficiency of the apparatus is greatly increased. The inside, or under surface of the cover 12, is' provided with two concentric ribs or flanges 13, 14, against which the top 1 of the running wheel 15.0perates, as shown in Fig. 1. The said running wheel is pref-' erably made of a slightly dished annular ring 25 having an upwardly and inwardly inclined rim 26 and curved arms 27 ,connecting same with a central hub 28, the latter adapted tobe keyed or otherwise secured to the driving-shaft 6, of the apparatus.

A feature of tlie inventionconsists in proand with slightly rearwar viding. the edges of the aforesaid curved arms 27, with oppositely indlined sharp edges; the advance'or convex edge of each arm being sharp along its upper edge a, while the rear or concave edge of each arm is sharp at its lower ed e 6; thus the said arms have a propellerike action on the water, cutting and forcing-the same downward and outward between the blades of the wheel; the tendency being to raise the wheel and thereby lessen the friction on thebearings of its shaft as well as to prevent any outflow of Water'over the annular ring and its inner rim 26.

The letter 0 designates a series of watercuttingand expelling blades, which are cast of the straight flat surfaces, slightly being The cylindrical projection--16 is alsoproor otherwise secured tangentially to the in-; ner circle of the annular ring 25 of the running wheel and project therefrom in parallel lines with the driving shaft 6, or in line slightly inclined to or from same. Except in machines, adapted for verylightwork,

the outerextremities of the cutting blades 0 wardly to present a shar vided with a vertical opening 18-havingl aa seatfin the lower: part thereof, uponwhic ball-valv'e 19 is fitted, so as to permit of the escape of air when the machine is submerged. A stufiing box 20 is formed in the center of the top of the cover 12, and a vertically divided scover :21 is ada tedto fit there1n,- to takethe wear of t e driving shaft; The said stufling box cover issecured in-position by screw-threaded bolts 22 so as to permit of the packing being tightened when necessary.

Collars .23 and1241 aretfitted to. the upper and lower parts of the driving shaft 6 to relieve the Step5 and-stufling-box cover 21 of the weight-of the-said shaft and the.- wheel thereon. .The lower collar also serves to exclude sand and. from thestep bear.-.

ing, and thusit-protects same fromexcessivewear. v The apparatusds-seeured within the lower part ofa flume or penstock by bolts-passing through the flange 2 and the timbers ,u on which, it rests. as shown in' Figs-. 6 '9 nstoek, theflang'e portion a paratus,-and the floor or timbers. upon whi itlGStSn by bolts passing-throng};

In the modified form of a paratus shown in Fig. 8 the deflecting. stan s'll are bolted to timbers in" the lower part of the flume, the .drivingshaft 6 being extended to the step 5 which is secured to the lower part of the .fiume frame. In this instance, no ovision is made for adjusting the shaft an its runnin'g-wheel. 1

---As heretofore stated, the form of a paratus shown in Fig. 8 is only employe for. :light work, while at Fig.'9 the" apparatus and structure surrounding sameis of the v most substantial character.- 1

in operation, the water enters through the }bottomof theapparatus wherein it is sliced i or plowed by the cuttingbladesofthe run- ,ning wheel, and centrifugally thrown off the gperiphery of theww-heel into the :flume 'or ,penstoek. The continuous motionof the said wheel forces the water\upward,' where itisdischarged through the; outlet provided itherefer,, as 'shown-; in :thevarious figures-,- !Thevelocity of the discharge isxin :perfect !harmony with the speed at which :the skirt {of the wheel moves; that is, were there no lbaek .-pressure oroutside thrust against the {revolving knives, but as there is-a Wei ht=in= itrue-pro ortion to the head of'the co umn, must be i'the .spee of the skirt of periphe {increased fast enou hzto pe'rfec y-sustain {this given head or co umn-of water and keepit stationary at this-level. Again, to. tlns :skirt-speed'mustibe added-the velocity with iwhich itzis desiredito' discharge the water {from the wheel in order to-make u for a ggivenpumping capacity for practica work.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letwater-elevators, of-an annular; ring, a'oentral @hub and curved arms connecting the ring andhub,.the.-convex side of'eachmrmr gsha'rp along its-u per ed and the concave side sharp at oweretfge, and -.wa te r-cut- .ting. and expellin blades connected with the annular ring an .pro'eeting. therefromin ::lin'es-. preferably ara el with .the I shaft of the whee ,;andtangential to the in Zner. circleof the ring. I v

i 2. Thecon bination in arunningwheel for E water-alevators, of an annular ring; acjentral !hub and curved arms eonneeting tharing and hub, the convex side of each arm-'iaeing isharpalong its u per e 1 the coiieave jside shar 'at its" ower u e, .a series afloat Q tin bla es connected' witathe annular.- ring Q a rojeeting erefrom in lines referabl 5 para lelwith th ePdriving-shafhthg said euti ting blades-having flat surfaces .and -;tan

nested with an' annularring,

Having now described my invention, what top seat therein and a ball valve adapted 'to I 3. The combination in a waterelevator having a dome-shaped cover provided at its with a vertical opening having a valve X a lower cylindrical section having an open bottom and a flanged top, said section being provided with'a series of vertical guides; a series "of deflectors supported upon the flanged top of the cylindrical section, each deflector having curved surfaces terminating in' sharp edges and provided with a rodhole, as described, a dome-shaped cover mounted upon the deflectors and provided at its apex with a stuifing-bomhaving an opening in which is seated a valve; rods vertically movable in the deflectors; a framemovable in said guide and attached to the lower ends of said rods and a step connected with the center of said frame; a vertical shaft j ournaled in the stufiing-box and step a running-wheel provided with water-cutting blades mounted on the shaft, and means for elevating and adjusting the position of the frame and Wheel.

In testimony whereof I aflix my'signature in presence of two witnesses.

I FRANK A. GRUN OW. Witnesses:

L; F. LEWIS, PETER E. HENNAGE. 

